Eye exercising device



March 11, 1952 w, RYAN 2,589,145

EYE EXERCISING DEVICE Filed Jan. 25, 1951 2 SHEETSSHEET l INVENTOR,

ATTORNEYS March 11,1952 R. w. RYAN EYE EXERCISING DEVICE 2 Sl-IEETS-SHEET 2 Filed Jan. 25, 1951 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS.

Patented Mar. 11, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EYE EXERCISING DEVICE Richard W. Ryan, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application January 25, 1951, Serial No. 207,725

This invention relates to a device designed for sitions before the eyes of a patient being treated,

by observing and following the movements of the movable objects with the eyes the eyes of the patient will be caused to roll or move to various positions resulting in the exercising and developing of the muscles of the eyes.

Another object of the invention is to provide an eye exercising device embodying movable objects, means being provided for varying the movements of the movable objects to vary the movements of the eyes of the patient viewing the objects.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through the cabinet of an exercising device constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of the cabinet, the motor housing being shown in section.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the means for transmitting movement to the movable object.

Fig. 5 is an exploded view illustrating the manner of connecting the movable arms to the cabinet.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the exercising device comprises the cabinet 5 which has an open side closed by the closure 6, which is in the form of a plate held in position by means of screws 1 that pass through openings in the closure 6 and are threaded in the enlargements 8 formed within the cabinet.

Secured within the cabinet and extending inwardly from the front wall thereof, is the hollow shaft 9 on which the gear I0 is mounted, the gear l0 having its teeth in mesh with the pinion 5 Claims. (Cl. 12876.5)

I I mounted on the shaft [2 which is operated by the electric motor IS. The motor 13 is supported on the outer surface of the cabinet 5 and is housed by the cap l4.

Mounted on the shaft 9 is the cam hi to which the cam 16 is connected, the cam I6 being of a diameter less than the diameter of the cam [5. These cams l5 and [6 are connected by means of the screw I! that moves through threaded openings in the cams l5 and IS, the threaded openings aligning with the opening l8 formed in the gear Hl.

Pivotally mounted on the screws l9, are the actuating, arms 20 and 2!, the arms 20 and 2| having tail pieces 22 which extend substantial distances below the screws l9. The actuating arm 20 is provided with the lug 23, which is so arranged that it will engage therperiphery of the cam 16, while the arm 2| carries the substantially short lug 24 that engages the periphery of the cam [5, the location and construction of the arms being such that the operating arms will move in unison. As clearly shown by Fig. 2 of the drawings the operating arms 2|] and 2| extend inwardly where they cross each other, the arms-20 and 2| moving transversely of the cabinet 5, the arms working through the guide member 25 supported within the cabinet.

As shown by Fig. 1 of the drawings, the cabinet is formed with an opening 26. the wall of which is punched outwardly to provide a sup porting bearing for the ball 21 secured to the shaft 28, there being provided a bearing member 29 secured within the cabinet-and contacting with the ball 21, holding the ball within the opening of the cabinet wall to permit of free movement of the shaft 28. The shaft 28 is engaged by the arms 2| at the point where the arms 20 and 2| cross, as shown by Fig. 4, with the result that as the arms 20 and 2! swing within the cabinet, the shaft 28 will be oscillated. Mounted on the upper end of the shaft 28 is the ball 30 which is the object viewed by the patient undergoing treatment of the eyes, the patients eyes following the object or ball 30 to cause the muscles of the eyes to function in order to move the eyes in following the reciprocating ball 30.

On the inner end of the shaft 28 is the weight 3| which holds the shaft 28 in balance and insures a true contact between the arms 20 and 2| and the shaft 28.

The shaft 28 includes an outer removable section 32 which is made removable so that various types of objects may be used by merely removing the outer section 32 and replacing the section 32 with a section having an article or object on its outer end, of a, shape other than a ball.

In the present showing I have illustrated cam members [5 and I6 of a definite construction. It may be desirable to use cam members of different constructions to meet various requirements. The cams I5 and I6 may be readily removed and replaced by cams of varying constructions.

In the use of the device, the cabinet is placed before the eyes of the patient, the cabinet being arranged the desired distance from the patient so that the patient in following the movements of the movable object of the device will necessarily move his eyes, exercising the muscles of the eyes to strengthen the eyes.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. An eye exercising device, comprising a cabinet, a horizontal shaft pivotally mounted in a bearing in the front wall of the cabinet at a point intermediate the ends of the shaft, one end of the shaft extending forwardly from the cabinet, the opposite end of said shaft being disposed in said cabinet, a visible object mounted on the forwardly projecting end of said shaft, a

pair of operating arms pivotally mounted intermediate their ends within the cabinet, the upper ends of said operating arms crossing each other at a point above and in contact with the horizontal shaft, lugs extending inwardly from the lower ends of said operating arms, and earns mounted within the cabinet engaging said lugs, swinging said arms, horizontal shaft and visible object over the field of operation.

2. An eye exercising device comprising a cabinet, a, horizontal shaft mounted in a bearing in the front wallof the cabinet, extending forwardly from the cabinet, one end of the shaft being disposed within the cabinet, a weight on the end of the shaft within the cabinet, a visible object mounted on the outer end of said shaft, a. pair of operating arms pivotally mounted at points intermediate their ends, within said cabinet, cam discs mounted within the cabinet operating between and engaging said arms, means for rotating the cam discs, whereby said arms, shaft and visible object are moved in an irregular path over the field of operation.

3. An eye exercising device comprising a, cabinet, a horizontal shaft pivotally mounted in a bearing in the front wall of the cabinet at a point intermediate the ends of the shaft, one end of the shaft extending forwardly from the cabinet, the opposite end of the shaft being disposed within said cabinet, a visible object mounted on the forward end of the shaft, a pair of spaced operating arms pivotally mounted at points intermediate said ends, within the cabinet, rotary cams disposed within the cabinet between said arms, lugs on said arms contacting with the said cams whereby said arms are operated upon rotation of said cams, said operating arms crossing each other at a point above and in contact with the end of said hori zontal shaft within the cabinet, swinging said shaft and visible object in an irregular path over the field of operation.

4. An eye exercising device comprising a cabinet, a horizontal shaft pivotally mounted in a bearing in the front wall of said cabinet at a point intermediate the ends of the shaft, one end of said shaft extending forwardly from the cabinet, the opposite end of the shaft being disposed within the cabinet, a visible object mounted on the forward end of said shaft, 9, pair of pivoted operating arms mounted within the cabinet, said arms crossing each other at a, point above the shaft in contact with said shaft, cams mounted within the cabinet between said operating arms, operating said arms, shaft and visible object as the cams rotate, an electric motor mounted on the cabinet, and means for transmitting movement of the motor to said cams.

5. An eye exercising device comprising a cabinet, a horizontal shaft pivotally mounted in a bearing in the front wall of the cabinet at a point intermediate the ends of the shaft, one end of the shaft extending forwardly from the cabinet, a visible object mounted on the forwardly extended end of said shaft, a pair of operating arms pivotally mounted Within the cabinet, said operating arms crossing each other at a point above and in contact with the end of the shaft disposed within said cabinet, a guide member mounted within the cabinet within which said arms operate restricting pivotal movement of said arms, and means cooperating with the arms swinging the arms laterally and moving said shaft and visible object in an irregular path over the field of operation.

RICHARD W. RYAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,119,184 Miller Dec. 1, 1914 1,358,789 Scarsten Nov. 16, 1920 1,647,117 Fox Oct. 25, 1927 2,117,825 Sams May 17, 1938 

